Inaugural Meeting of the Faculty of Surgical Trainers

One of the profession's top authorities on training is to be keynote speaker for the launch meeting of the RCSEd's Faculty of Surgical Trainers (FST).

Professor Richard Reznick (pictured), Chair of the Department of Surgery at Toronto University, will deliver the main talk at the meeting which takes place at the RCSEd on Wednesday 14 November.

Among his wide-ranging interests, Professor Reznick runs a research programme on assessment of technical competence for surgeons and supervises a fellowship programme in surgical education.

The FST's Surgical Director, Mr Craig McIlhenny said: "I am delighted that Professor Richard Reznick has agreed to be our keynote speaker at the inaugural meeting. Dean Reznick is a world expert in surgical education and training, and an excellent and engaging speaker.

"I hope his participation will help attract surgical trainers to our meeting and encourage them to join the Faculty, so that we can continue to champion and maintain high-quality surgical training."

Other speakers include Mr David O'Regan, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Mr O'Regan was President of the Association of Surgeons in Training from 1999-2000 and initiated the Silver Scalpel Award - ASIT's annual award for best surgical trainer.

The inaugural meeting will focus on the achievement of excellence in surgical training and will also discuss the new GMC proposals to recognise and approve trainers.

A call for abstracts will be issued shortly for submissions on any aspect of surgical training. A selection of the best abstracts will be invited for podium presentation at the meeting with a prize for the best submission.